Oct 17: Leopards in the cold and wet

We had spectacular thunderstorms last night.  The rain was thundering so heavily on the dining area roof, we couldn't hear each other speak.  The food was fantastic though ... The enthusiastic chef created imaginative dishes using Impala, ostrich and chicken.  Quite the best meal we've had from a bush kitchen.  The dining and lounge area is all under a thatched roof and open to the fresh air on three sides.  There only about 25 guests accommodated in this small lodge so it had a cosy, intimate atmosphere.

The storm cleared the air then a cold southerly wind brought the temperatures plummeting, so I decided it best not to go on this mornings game drive.  Alan said it was very cold, too cold for a picnic breakfast, but he brought back brilliant photos of their sighting of a lion devouring a wilderbeast, a leopard having breakfast up a tree, and glimpses of her cubs below. 

Meanwhile, I'm keeping warm in the tent, but fending off Vervet monkeys ... They have learnt to unzip the tent flies, and twice I needed to chase a troup away.  Both times I was sitting at the dressing table and heard the fly unzipping, no warning footsteps, scratching or any other sounds at all ... They just creep up and deftly unzip!

It warms up enough this afternoon for Alan to enjoy the ensuite outdoor shower, that only monkeys and Nyala can peep into ... oh, and me of course!

I have benefitted from a days rest and venture out on the evenings game drive.  And it decides to rain again ... Quite heavily for a spell.  The Land Rover remains uncovered, our only shelter some rather unflattering fleece-lined capes.  Doesn't do much for my hair style!

Well worth the effort though, this time we are treated to quite a spectacle, we find the leopard mum has retrieved this mornings kill from the tree bringing it down for her cubs to feed on.  As we were watching a large hyena attacked the group.  In a flash the mum lashed out at it, giving the Cubs a precious few seconds to escape.  Their response was so lightening fast before we knew it, one had clambered up a tree, and the other had dashed 50 metres away.  Then Mum grabs the remains of the Impala kill and attempts to take it up another tree.  It failed though: the massive strong hyena, just the one on its own, snatched the carcass and hightailed it out of sight amongst the bushes, never to be seen again.

Wow, what a drama playing out right before our eyes ... Not in a documentary but just a few meters from us.  Got to admire the documentary photographers though, it was all too quick for us mere mortals to capture on camera.

We've had a few "sundowners" in South Africa, but today was the first time the clouds parted enough for us to capture the sun going down.  Pretty special.  The clouds and colours were very dramatic.  Suited the moment!